Original subtitles

Hey, Pop!

Hey, Pop.

Hi, son.

Hey, I was just writing another love song.

What rhymes with "crazy"?

Oh, that's easy. "Lazy."

Pop, ever since you sent away for this songwriting course,

all you've been doing is sitting around here writing songs.

Would you come help me unload the truck?

Not now, son. I'm busy writing another love song.

Hey, Pop, why don't you face it?

Your songs are stupid.

They're not stupid.

I write about real emotion,

things everyone knows and feels.

"I Left My Heart in El Segundo"?

Catchy, huh?

No. It's terrible.

Well, how about this one?

It's a sensitive love song

about a guy whose marriage is about to fall apart,

but he's tried everything but nothing seems to work.

What's it called?

"Get Out of Here and Take Your Mother With You."

See, you... Here's the way it starts.

♪ You take the pans ♪

♪ And I'll take the pots ♪

♪ You take the mobile home ♪

♪ And I'll right stay here in Watts ♪

♪ Oh, baby ♪♪

Wow!

Are you finished? Are you kidding?

I got a hundred of them just like this.

Here's my favorite right here.

I call it "Ode to Donna."

Here's the way it starts.

Would you stop it?

♪ Oh, Donna, baby ♪

♪ I'll have your money back to you by Tuesday ♪♪

Do you get that? "Owed to Donna."

I got it. Yeah.

See... I got it.

I got it.

Pop, when are you gonna give all of this up, huh?

Give it up? Never.

I'll never give it up.

Years from now, people will be humming my songs

all across America.

And you know why?

Yeah. It's the only way they can avoid the words.

You big dummy.

I happen to be a promising songwriter.

Says who?

Says Professor Haydn Seek.

There he is.

Professor Haydn Seek, Famous Songwriters' School.

See there?

"Dear Mr. Sanford,

"We loved your last original composition,

"'Life Is Just a Bowl of Warm Menudo.'

"Continued success, et cetera, et cetera.

Enclosed is your next lesson, et cetera."

Let me have a look.

"Yours truly, et cetera."

Let me have a look at this.

Uh-huh. "Please enclose $10 with your next lesson."

This is just as I thought. Pop, this is a rip-off, man.

If you give somebody some money,

they'll say anything you want them to.

Really? Well, let me give you $10 and say goodbye.

All right.

If you insist on being rude to me,

I'll just forget about the present that I got for you.

Uh, I'm sorry, son.

Uh, w-w-what present?

What's Sunday, Pop?

Let's see, there's a Gork film festival.

And then there's that cheap game show,

Bowling for Food Stamps.

Am I getting warm? No.

Sunday is Father's Day.

I thought you forgot.

No, I didn't forget.

I got you something extra special, Pop.

Are you ready? Uh-huh.

Now, hold onto something.

Saturday night, I'm taking you to see B.B. King.

What? B.B. King?

At B.B. King Live at the Lucifer Club, live?

You got it.

Son, I don't know what to say. He's my favorite.

I've been reading all week about him in the paper.

The best seats go for 50 bucks apiece.

A hundred bucks for Father's Day.

Well...

I didn't exactly get you the $50 seats.

Oh, that's all right.

I mean, it's the thought that counts.

I can handle the $40 seats.

Can... Can you deal with the $10 ones?

Ten-dollar seats?

They must be hot.

Why do you say that?

Because they probably in the kitchen.

Man can't sit... Hey, look here.

Damn! Look at her there. Take your hat off.

Come on, Pop.

Hey, man, what you doing with them?

You must have ate already.

Hey, there, buddy.

Guy got a gold tooth.

Pop.

Hey, son, what's them tiny things

crawling over there on the stage?

The band.

Hey, Pop, relax and sit down, man.

These tables aren't that bad.

I guess you're right.

We can see pretty good.

I can't see nothing!

Just relax. I'll handle this, okay?

Uh, excuse me.

Would you mind removing your hat?

That ain't no hat. That's a fruit stand.

And it's staying right where it is.

How would you like to get your crop dusted?

Hey, you looking for some trouble?

Uh, answer him, son.

What is the problem?

Uh, my father can't see.

Oh, I'm sorry, but as you can see,

all our tables are full.

What about an empty table up there in the front?

Those are for special guests of Mr. King's.

That's us.

B.B. King and I go back to St. Louis, 1930s.

I'll tell him you said hello. No, no, no.

Wait a minute.

What if Isaac Hayes was coming here?

Would you give him that table?

Of course.

Well, I just talked to Ise and he's not coming.

So give that to us.

That's impossible.

Um, would $5 get us there?

That's possible.

How about 10?

You got it.

Right this way.

I hope you get fruit flies.

Don't roll your eyes at me.

Get out of the way, man.

Sit down... I ain't starting no trouble.

We came to see B.B. King. Sit down, Pop.

They've got a show on. Hey, baby.

She's pretty.

Oh... Ah, ah, ahem!

You don't have to "ah, ah, ah, ah."

I know. Here.

Excuse me. This is only 5. Where's the other 5?

Here's the other five.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

the Club Lucifer is proud to present

the King of the Blues, Mr. B.B. King.

♪ I've been Downhearted, baby... ♪

♪ Ever since The day we met... ♪

Dig it!

♪ I say I've been Downhearted, baby ♪

♪ Ever since the day we met ♪

♪ You know our love is nothing But the blues, woman ♪

♪ Baby, how blue can you get? ♪

♪ You're evil When I'm with you, baby... ♪

Oh, he knows it.

♪ And you are jealous When we're apart ♪

♪ I say you're evil ♪

♪ You're so evil When I'm with you, baby ♪

♪ And you are jealous When we're apart ♪

♪ How blue can you get, baby? ♪

♪ The answer's right here In my heart... ♪

Go, B.B., go!

♪ I gave you a brand-new Ford ♪

♪ But you said, "I want a Cadillac" ♪

♪ I bought you a $10 dinner ♪

♪ And you said, "Thanks for the snack" ♪

♪ I let you live in my penthouse ♪

♪ You said, "It was Just a shack" ♪

♪ I gave you seven children ♪

♪ And now you wanna Give 'em back ♪

♪ Yes, I've been Downhearted, baby ♪

♪ Ever since the day we met ♪

♪ Say, our love is nothing But the blues ♪

♪ Baby, how blue can you ♪

♪ Get? ♪♪

Hey, Pop, Mr. King's never gonna buy any of your songs.

Why don't we just forget about it and go on home?

Are you crazy?

This is the chance of a lifetime.

There he is! Oh!

Oh, no!

There he is, son.

I knew... I knew my heart could never stand meeting my idol.

You my favorite.

Oh, I ain't never been so close to nobody before.

Oh!

Oh!

What's the matter?

"When I Saw You, My Heart Went Pitty-Pat."

That's terrible.

Well, if you don't like that one,

how about "Life Is Just a Bowl of Warm Menudo"?

I got a hundred songs right here.

Hey, what's going on here?

Forgive my father,

but, see, he's trying to break into show business

as a songwriter.

Yeah, see, just like you did

when you used to play at the Kit Kat Club in St. Louis.

I'm probably your biggest fan, Mr. King.

Come on, B.B.

We can't be late for that dinner appointment with your manager.

Man, you know, I get sick of the road.

For once, I'd just like to spend an evening

with some down-home folks.

Well, get down, Lamont. What?

Uh...

Uh, listen, Mr. King.

How about you having dinner at our house tomorrow?

And I can take you away from all this,

at least for one night, anyway.

And we can talk about St. Louis and the good old days.

Who knows? Maybe we knew some of the same people.

Yeah. My pop's a great cook.

It sounds terrific.

Yeah, I know it sounds...

It's a crazy idea, but think about it.

He said yes.

What a thrill.

Mr. King, my name is Sanford, Fred Sanford.

This is my son, Lamont.

How do you do?

You know, if you remember the good old days,

then, Fred, maybe you'll get a kick out of my book.

I sure would.

There you are.

Why I Sing the Blues by B.B. King.

I can't wait to read it.

Yeah. Here's our address.

Thank you. Seven o'clock all right?

Perfect.

Mr. King, do you think when you come over tomorrow,

you might be able to listen to some of my songs?

Are they any good?

Good?

My name is Fred G. Sanford,

and the "G" is for "Grammy."

Come on, Mr. King. We got to go.

Seven o'clock, now. We'll be waiting for you.

Okay. He's coming over tomorrow!

Hey, Pop.

I'm sorry.

You made me lose my place,

and I was just getting to the heart of the mystery too.

Mystery? Pop, this is B.B. King's autobiography.

This is not a detective story.

What mystery are you talking about?

The mystery of B.B.'s B.B.s.

Well, after seeing B.B.'s show last night,

I'd say it stands for "Big Beat."

How about "Beer Belly"?

Hey, Pop, dig yourself.

And besides, shouldn't you start dinner?

They'll be here in about an hour.

I will, son, as soon as I finish this last chapter,

which tells why B.B. really sings the blues.

Okay, I'll be in the kitchen getting everything else ready.

Okay.

Hey, Lamont, come here quick.

Huh?

Listen to this.

"I started singing the blues

"the day my true love left me

for another man."

So? There's more.

"She was a shoemaker's daughter in St. Louis.

And when she left me, she broke my heart."

Hey, wait a minute.

Grandpa was a shoemaker in St. Louis.

What a coincidence.

Well, how's this for a coincidence?

"At the time, I was a down-and-out singer

"named Riley King,

"so I can't blame her for running off

with a man who wanted to start his own business in California."

Does that sound familiar?

Hey, wait a minute, Pop.

You don't think he's talking about Mom?

Well, listen to this.

"If I ever find the man

"who took my beloved E.W. away from me,

I promise to get even."

E.W.

Elizabeth Winfield!

Pop, that was Mom's maiden name before she married you.

I've come a long way from St. Louis,

but not far enough.

B.B. King is gonna kill me.

I'm coming to join you, E.W.

Oh, honey.

I'll be the one

with the electric guitar shoved up my nose.

Whoo-ooh!

Pop, you've got enough food here to feed an army.

Well, that's the whole idea.

See, the more he eats, the less we'll talk.

And the less we talk, the less he'll find out about Elizabeth

and the more chance I'll have of living through the night.

Hey, Pop, I still think you're overreacting to this.

You're right, son.

I'm gonna calm down.

That's him! I know his knock.

He's here to get me. Would you stop it?

I'll get the door. Now, just relax.

Don't shoot!

Pop, that's just his guitar.

That's right.

He takes us both everywhere he goes.

Good old Lucille.

Pleased to meet you, Lucille.

I'm not Lucille. I'm Edmond.

The guitar is Lucille.

Fred, you should remember that from my book.

What book?

Uh, my book.

You did read it, didn't you?

He couldn't put it down.

Yeah, yeah. Sit down. Have a leg.

Maybe later. Let's talk about St. Louis.

No, in a little while. Uh, have a wing.

Uh, no, thanks. Did you really like the book?

I loved it. Have a chair.

Um, were you really surprised

when you found out why I sing the blues?

Have a heart.

Well, maybe I will have

a little piece of, um, cheese, then, I think.

Uh, you really think you should, B.B.?

You know how that cheese disagrees with you

and leaves you upset.

Upset?

Now, what did you do that for?

The last thing I want to do is get B.B. upset.

I'll get it.

Hey, hiya, Fred.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't realize you had company.

I'll come back later.

No, no, no. Don't go, Bubba.

That man wants to kill me.

Which one?

That one.

Oh, don't worry, Fred.

You can count on me to protect you.

Who is he, anyway?

B.B. King.

B.B. King?

Oh, Mr. King!

I'm one of your biggest fans.

Can I have your autograph?

Hey, Bubba, Mr. King is here

because he wanted a night away from autograph hounds and fans.

Bubba's no fan. He's just a lot of hot air.

That's all right. I'd be glad to sign an autograph for you.

Uh, my name is Bubba Bexley,

but you can call me B.B., B.B.

You get it, huh?

Yeah.

Oh, by the way,

how long have you and Fred been friends?

Well, actually, we just met the other night.

Yeah?

Well, Fred and I have been friends for years,

ever since he came out here from St. Louis with Elizabeth.

Was that your wife, Fred?

Uh, no, no, no, no. Bubba got it all wrong.

See, uh, I came out here from Elizabeth, New Jersey,

with a very saintly man named Louis.

Hey, wait a minute.

You married a woman from St. Louis named Elizabeth?

What was her maiden name?

Lipshitz.

Lipshitz?

Lipshitz? Lipshitz.

Yeah, yeah. Did you know her?

Wait a minute.

It wasn't Lipshitz.

It was Winfield.

Yeah, Elizabeth Winfield.

Did I get it, Fred?

No, not yet, but you hang in there.

You married Elizabeth Winfield?

I couldn't help it. It was destiny.

She took one look at my scrap heap and fell madly in love.

You two have a lot to talk about.

Uh, would you like to hear my songs now?

I'll get it.

Oh, no.

Just what I needed now, a wino and a rhino.

Watch it, sucker.

You know, we really don't have to take this.

Let's go, Esther.

Esther?

Riley?

Esther Winfield!

Riley King!

Ha ha!

Hey, some bodyguard you are.

You just stand there while B.B.'s being attacked by Jaws.

You look terrific.

And you're just as beautiful as ever.

The poor man's going blind.

Hey, Pop, don't you understand?

E.W.

Esther Winfield.

Aunt Esther is the woman that B.B. has been looking for.

Then Woody's the guy that stole her away from B.B.

What's going on here?

Uh, Woody, that man is B.B. King.

Esther left him to marry you.

I stole Esther from B.B. King?

Now, what does that tell you, huh?

Well, don't act crazy. It's only petty larceny.

Woody, you got to get out of here,

because B.B. said in his book

that he's gonna get even

with the guy who stole her away from him.

So you better leave

unless you're willing to stand up and fight for her.

Well, I'll see you later, then.

Freeze.

So... So you're the guy who stole Esther away from me.

You want her back?

What's your name?

Woodrow. Woodrow Anderson.

Should I give it to him now, B.B.?

I have waited a long time for this moment.

Yeah, give it to him.

Oh, hit the deck!

"Pay to the order of Woodrow Anderson."

Pay?

Here you go, Mr. Anderson.

And I think you're one lucky guy.

Thank you.

Hey, this is a check for $1000.

Wait a minute. I don't understand.

Pop, I think Mr. King just evened the score.

That's right.

If it hadn't been for Woodrow,

B.B. never would have left St. Louis.

You know, I think I would have been very happy with Esther.

But I think I'm much more happier

since I started singing the blues with Lucille.

You know, and I want to thank you too, Fred.

You can make mine out to "cash."

But that's not what I had in mind.

Well, what did you have in mind?

Well, I thought maybe I could buy one of your songs

and, um, and record it.

But you've never heard one of my songs.

It doesn't matter. Yes, it does.

My songs stink.

Well, there must be something I can do.

There is.

It'd be an honor if we could sing one of your songs.

All right. How about right now?

Let's go over to the Club Lucifer and jam.

All right.

And then maybe we can, uh, dedicate a number to Esther.

Okay. How about, uh, "Mule Train"?

♪ I hate to see The evening sun go down ♪

♪ Yes, I hate to see The evening sun go down ♪

♪ 'Cause my baby She done left me ♪

♪ My baby done left this town ♪

♪ Got the St. Louis blues ♪

♪ Blue as I can be ♪

♪ Got the St. Louis blues ♪

♪ Blue as I can be ♪

♪ My baby, she's gone ♪

♪ She's so far from me ♪

♪ My woman goes out at midnight ♪

♪ She stays out till the dawn ♪

♪ And when she comes in lying ♪

♪ I just take her in my arms ♪

♪ Because I'm hip ♪

♪ Yeah, can't help myself ♪

♪ I watched her stick a knife in my chest... ♪

Now, come on, B.B., play it.

♪ Well, took her to the nightclub ♪

♪ Bought champagne ♪

♪ Rolled in to take ♪

♪ That walk in the rain... ♪

Yeah!

Whoo!

♪ Hey, mama ♪

♪ Look at sis ♪

♪ Out in the backyard ♪♪